Tapping fitting



A. J. FAUSEK ET AL TAPPING FITTING Sept. 29, 1936.

Fi led Sept. 27, 1934 v INVENTORS zilfiuse/r vffiy us Q/f ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT 50FFICE TAPPING FITTING 7 Arthur Fausek and 'Irw'ing F. Fausek,

Clayton, Mo.

Application September 27, 1934, Serial No.' 745,690

.11 Claims. (Cl."285'175) This invention relates generally to fittings, and more specifically totapping fittings intended for use in tapping Zbeer barrels andother containers provided with valves of the type known as lager valves, the pre'd'ominantobject of the invention being to provide -an improved tapping fitting which is so constructed and arranged that certelin-partsofthe tapping fitting which are introduced-into the lagerwalves and which heretofore were in fixed relation'toeach other are adjustable with respect to each other, so as to permit rapid and convenient application of the fitting to *aflager valve 'eventhoug'hthestem of the lager valve is in a slightly =displaced position.

'As is quite generally-known, beer barrels are provided with valves which are known as lager valves, there being two of such valves associated with each beer barrel, one at the opening through which pressure gas is introduced into the barrel and one at the opening through which the beer is discharged from the barrel. The type of lager Valve now in general use'comprises a valve housing provided at-its-open, outer end with L-shaped grooves, or depressed portionswhich receive lugs on a fitting applied to the valve in a'manner to provide a bayonet connection between the fitting -and the valve. Also, a lager valve of the type described includes a valve stem provided with a closure element, "and having a -non-circular end portionwhich isengaged by a corresponding- 1y shaped socket portion of the fitting being applied tothe'va'lve so that the 'valve stem may be rotated tdmove the closure element of the valve to an open position simultaneously with'the .attachment of thefitting to the valve.

The attaching lugs and the valve stem-receiving socket portion of a'tapping fitting of the type heretofore used were fixed with respect to each other, hence, if a valvestem of a lager valve to which the fitting was to be applied were even slightly displaced from its proper position in a rotary direction, the fitting .couldnot be applied to the valve until the valve stem was properly positioned. This was so because when the lugs of the fitting were alined with the entering portions of the grooves of the valve housing, the socket portion of the fitting was .not properly alined with the non-circular end portion of the displaced valve stem and said socket portion could not be moved onto said non-circular end portion of said valve stem until the valve stem was properly positioned.

The tiliii-lculties and annoyances resulting from the fi-xed relationship of "the lugs andsocket portions of tapping fittings heretofore employed are Valve stem is slightly displaced in a-rotary-direo l0 tion the socket portion of *the fitting 'may be rotated slightly to a position where it will pass onto the non-circular end portion or the dis-- placed valve stem.

Fig. '1 is a longitudinal section of a tap'ping 1 5 fitting constructed in accordance with this finvention.

Fig. 2 is a'front elevation .ofthe tapping'fitting shown inFig. l, a iportionof thevalve-operating 7 means thereof being broken "away. 20

Fig.3 is a fragmentary plan-"view o'f the forward portion of zthe tapping fitting illustrated in Figs. land 2.

Fig. 4xis a cross-section on 'line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section ofa modified 5' form of the invention, showing 'the s tructure' in apartially assembled condition.

Fig.'6 is a'view similar to Fig.5, but'illustrating the structure in aacompletly assembled -'condition. 7 1 30 Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 1'| of Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line 8--' 8:'of Fig. 1.

In the drawing,whereinlarefshown for the purpose of illustration two'em'bodiments of the in- V vention, A designates the iinproved tapping 'fittin'g 5 generally. The fitting A includes an angular body portion I provided with a rotary valve 2 for controlling passage of fluid through the passageway 3 formed through the'angular body portion I, said rotary 'valve being provided with an -'open- 40 ing 4 movable into and 'out of registration with saidpassageway 3. At its forward :end the angular bodyportion I is provided withan enlarged portion .5 that isprovided with ofisetiorward end faces 5 andi whichiare joined by longitudinally extended faces 5 that are in substantially'diametrically opposed relation, as shown in Fig. 4. Thelongitudinal-faces El provide shoulders which serve an important function to be hereinafter referred .to.

The forward end portion of the angular body portion I is provided with internal screw-threads 6 which receive the screw-threaded rear .end portion of .a tubular element '1. This tubular element, which is preferably formed of relatively v vided with portions of different diameters Where-- by annular shoulders I0 and II are formed on said tubular element. The angular bodyportion is provided with an annular depression I2 which.

surrounds the screw-threaded end portion of the tubular element, and an opening I3 leads into' this annular depression from the outer face.

of the angular body portion. In order to lock the tubular element I to the angular body portion, lead or other suitable-material I2 is poured'into the annular depression I2 through the opening I 3. This material fills the annular depression and hardens therein, so that the tubular element is firmly held in place.

Mounted for limited rotary movement on the tubular element Iris a member I4, which is interposed between the annular shoulder I 0 formed on the tubular element and the forward faces of the enlarged portion 5 of the angular body portion I. The forward face of the member I4 contacts with the annular shoulder III, and at its rear end the member I4 is provided with offset faces M and I4 which are joined by longitudinally extended and diametrically opposed faces I4. The offset'faces I4 and I4 of the member I4 contact with the ofiset faces 5 and 5 of the enlarged portion 5 of the angular body portion I, and the longitudinally extended faces 5 of said body portion I move toward and away from the longitudinally extended faces I4 of the member I4 when the angular body portion and the tubular element I are subjected to rotary movement with respect to the member I 4. Formed on the member I4 at diametrically opposed points thereof is a pair of lugs I5.

Mounted on the tubular element I and interposed ,between the annular shoulder II and the forward face of .the member I4is a gasket I6 which provides a fluid-tight joint between the tapping; fitting Aand a lager valve to which the fitting is applied.

In the useof the tapping fitting illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8, the fitting is positioned with respect to a lager valve towhich it is to be applied so that the lugs I5 of the tapping fitting are alined with the entering portions of the'L-shaped grooves or depressions of the lager valve which cooperate with said lugs to provide a bayonet joint between the tapping fitting and the lager valve. stemof thelager valve is in its proper position, the tapping fitting may be moved inwardly relative to the lager valve, thereby causing the lugs I5 to move through the entering portion of the L-shaped grooves or depressions of the valve and the non-circular opening 8 of the tubular element to move over the non-circular end portion of the lager valve stem. The tapping fitting is thenrotated, and through contact of faces 5 and I4 cause the lugs to pass longitudinally of the locking portions of the L-shaped grooves or depressions of the lagervalve, so as to securely lock the tapping fitting to, the lager valve. Simultane- If the non-circular end portion of the or depressed portions of the lager valve and the tapping fitting is moved toward the lager valve .50 that the lugs I5 will pass into said entering portions of said grooves or depressed portions.

However,due to the displacement of the lager valve stem, the non-circular opening 8 of the tubular element I of the fitting will not pass onto the non-circular end portion of the valve stem 'as in the case where the valve stem is properly positioned. When this situation arises in the use of the improved tapping fitting disclosed herein, the tapping fitting is rotated slightly until the non-circular opening 8 registers with and moves inwardly over the non-circular end portion of the valve stem of the lager valve. During such rotary movement of the tapping fitting the member I4 is held stationary, due tothe fact that the lugs I5 are in position in the, entering portions of the L- shaped grooves or depressed portions of the lager valve, and the remainder of the tapping fitting, including the tubular element I thereof, are rotated relative to the member I4 and the lugs I5. When the non-circular opening 8 has passed over the non-circular end portion of the lager valve stem as described, rotary movementof the tapping fitting is continued to move the lugs I5 longitudinally of the locking portions of the L- shaped grooves or depressed portions of the lager valve, and to rotate the stem of the lager valve so as to move the closure element thereof to an open position, whereupon the tapping is securely fixed to the lager valve and said lager valve is in an open condition. The relative movement between the member I4 and the remainder of the tapping fitting is very slight, as the lagervalve stem is never more than very slightly displaced and movement is transmitted from the vtapping fitting proper to the member I4 by movement of the faces 5 of the enlarged portion 5 of the angular body portion of the fitting into contact with the corresponding faces I4 of the member I4, the faces 5 and I4 being so located and arranged that slight movement of the angular body portion I and the tubular element I relative to r the member I4 is provided for.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 a form of the invention is illustrated where the lugs I5 are fixed with relation to the body portion l' of the tapping fitting, and the tubular element I is attached to said body portion so that it is capable of rotating slightly relative to said body portion. By referring to Fig. .7 it will be noted that the splines I6 are provided at the outer face of the tubular element I, and that these splines extend into grooves II formed in the inner face of the body portion of the fitting. It will also be noted that the grooves I I are considerably wider than the splines, so that the tubular element may rotate relative to the body portion I.

In order to attach the tubular element I to the body portion I, said tubular element is provided with an annular groove I8 and the body portion I is provided with an annular portion I9 which,.before the tapping fitting is assembled,

is. positioned as:shown-i:n 1 'ig. 5. With the annular portional9- positioned as illustrated in Fig. 5; the tubular element 1' may be introduced into position within the forward portion of the body portion all; the opening: at the center of the annular portion [Si-being. sufliciently large to permit passage therethrough of the rear portion of the. tubular element. After the tubular element has been properly positioned within the forward portion of the body portion I, the annular element I9 is moved by swaging or otherwise to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, where the inner portion is seated in the annular groove l8 formed at the outer face of the tubular element 7'. This prevents longitudinal movement of the tubular element relative to the body portion I, but the contact between the annular portion l9 and the tubular element is loose enough to permit rotary movement of the tubular element relative to the body portion of the fitting. By arranging the tubular element 1' so that it is capable of slight rotary movement, relative to the body portion of the fitting, said tubular element may adjust itself to slight displacements of lager valve stems.

We claim:

1. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comp-rising a body portion, lugs associated with said body portion, a socket portion provided with a non-circular opening adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, means whereby said lugs and socket portion are arranged for rotary movement relative to each other, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said lugs and said socket portion relative to each other.

2. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, lugs associated with said body portion, a socket por tion provided with a non-circular opening adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, means whereby said lugs and socket portion are arranged for rotary movement relative to each other, means for limiting such relative rotary movement of said lugs and socket portion, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said lugs and said socket portion relative to each other.

3. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, lugs associated with said body portion, a socket portion provided with a non-circular opening adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, means whereby said lugs and socket portion are arranged for rotary movement relative to each other, means comprising abutment faces for limiting such relative rotary movement of said lugs and socket portion, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said lugs and said socket portion relative to each other.

4. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a socket portion fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular opening adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member provided with lugs, said member and said socket portion being arranged for relative rotary movement, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said socket portion and said member relative to each other.

5. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a socket portion fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular opening adapted to receive correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member provided with lugs, said member and said socket portion being arranged for relative rotary movement, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said socket portion and said member relative to each other, and

means comprising abutment faces for limiting relative rotary movement between said member and said socket portion.

7. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a tubular element fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular socket opening for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member supported by said tubular element in a manner to provide for relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, lugs on said member, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said tubular element and said member relative to each other.

8. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a tubular element fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular socket opening for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member supported by said tubular element in a manner to provide for relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, means for limiting relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, lugs on said member, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said tubular element and said member relative to each other.

9. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a tubular element fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular socket opening for receiving a. correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member supported by said tubular element in a manner to provide for relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, means comprising abutment faces for limiting relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, lugs on said member, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said tubular element and said member relative to each other.

10. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a tubular element fixed to said body portion and provided with a non-circular socket opening for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member supported by said tubular element in a manner to provide for relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, means comprising abutment faces on said member and said body portion for limiting relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, lugs on said member, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said tubular element and said member relative to each other.

11. A tapping fitting adapted for attachment to lager valves comprising a body portion, a tubular element fixed to said 'body portion and provided with a non-circular socket opening for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of a stem of a lager valve, a member supported by said tubular element in a manner to provide for relative rotary movement between said tubular element and said member, means for limiting relative rotary movement of said tubular elementand said member, lugs on said member, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said. tubular element and said member relative to each other, said tubular element being formed of relatively hard material, and means for fixing said tubular element to said body portion.

ARTHUR J. FAUSEK.

IRWING F. FAUSEK. 

